How to Make a 3-D Tooth Model for a School Project

Creating a three-dimensional model of a tooth is a hands-on way of learning about anatomy. Schoolchildren can learn about the different parts of a tooth while being engaged in an arts-and-crafts project. This will likely help them to remember the function and location of these different parts. A simple but nevertheless educational project idea uses plastic foam and paint to create an informative display of a cutaway of a single tooth.

Things You'll Need

Block of white craft plastic foam

Red craft paint

Orange craft paint

Gray craft paint

Paintbrush

Permanent markers, 2 colors

Paper labels

Knife

This model primarily uses one side of the plastic foam block. Designate which side that will be, and which end will be the top. If you wish, you can use a knife to shape the top of the tooth model to look more like a tooth. Alternatively, you can use paint or a permanent marker to draw in details of the top of an actual tooth.

Consult a diagram of a tooth for an idea of how a 3-D tooth model should look. Paint a "W" shape halfway down and across the face of the block using red paint. This represents the gum tissue. Paint the area underneath the gum tissue with gray paint. This represents the bone. Paint a smaller tooth shape using orange paint in the area directly about the gum tissue. This represents the dentin. Leave the rest of the foam white to represent the enamel.

Allow the paint to dry. After that, paint a smaller tooth shape within the orange dentin area using red paint. This will represent the pulp chamber. Once that paint dries, use your permanent markers to draw in lines representing nerves and blood vessels. These will be in the red pulp chamber, and the lines should lead out of the bottom of the tooth. Use one of your permanent markers to trace the line between the gum tissue and dentin. This represents the cementum.

Make labels for all of the different elements of your 3-D tooth model. The specificity of what should be labeled may differ depending on the school grade level, so check if there is a list of criteria. Affix the labels using pins, tape or glue.